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(No Model.)

0. P. WEAVER.

SORTING SPOUT FOR TACK MACHINES.

No. 315,194. Patented Apr. 7, 1885.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES P. WEAVER, OF MORRISTOWVN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GOTTLIEB HARMAN, OF SAME PLACE.

SORTlNG-SPOUT FOR TACK-.MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 315,194, dated April 7, 1885.

Application filed October 9, 1884. (N0 model.)

T 0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES P. WEAVER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Norristown, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in SortingSpouts for Tack-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of my invention are to simplify the construction of a sorting-spout for tack or nail machines and to prevent the tacks or nails from becoming jammed in said spout; and these objects I attain in the manner which I will now proceed to describe, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of a sortingspout constructed in accordance with my in vention; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the same on a larger scale; Fig. 3, a transverse section on the line 1 2, Fig. 2; and Fig. 4:, a transverse section on the line 3 4, Fig. 2.

The spout A consists of an end plate, a, and opposite side plates, 1) b, inclined or flared outward from the bottom to the top, each side plate having at its lower edges an inwardly-turned rib or flange, d, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The spoutis hung to the tack or nail machine by a transverse rod, f, or in some other convenient manner, so as to be supported in the inclined position shown in Fig. 2, and the spout is free to vibrate slightly, this vibration being due to the jarring of the machine when in operation. The upper end of the side plate, I), is secured to a flange, a, on the end plate, a; but the upper end of the opposite plate, b, is free from the end plate, except at and near the top, where it is secured to the flange a so that the lower edge of the said plate I) is adjustable from and toward the lower edge of the plate I). Beneath the spout is a trough, B, consisting of a sheet or plate of steel or other elastic metal bent into the U shape shown in Fig. 3, and secured to the opposite side plates, b b, ofthe spout by riveting or otherwise. Through openings in the sides of the trough B pass transverse bolts g, one end of each of these bolts being furnished with a head, 2', bearing against one side of the trough, and the opposite end of each bolt screwing into a bar, 171, bearing against the opposite side of the trough. The elasticity of the bent "plate forming the trough B tends to separate the side plates, 7) b, of the spout; but the extent of this separation is governed by the adjustment of the bolts 9, so that the width of the slotzv between the ribs or flanges d d of the side plates can be increased or diminished, as desired, by a proper manipulation of the said bolts. As

the tacks or nails are delivered by the ma- 6o chine, they fall into the upper end of the inclined spout and descend the same, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the heads of the tacks or nails being supported by the flanges d d of the side plates during this descent, but" the splinters and headless tacks or nails pass-"f. ing through the slot and falling into the trough B, or into a supplementary chute, D, l which also receives the pieces discharged from the trough B and directs them into any suitable receptacle. The flanges d d of the side plates form flat bearings for the heads of the tacks or nails, and prevent the same from becoming jammed in the spout as they pass down the same, thus overcoming the objection to that class of sorting-spouts in which the sides plates are inclined throughout. Both side plates may be adjustable, if desired; but it is preferred to secure one of the plates to the end plate, a, as set forth, in order to impart increased stability to the spout.

The trough B may, if desired, possess such elasticity that it will tend to force the side plates, 12 1), toward each other, in which case the bolts 9 must be constructed to expand the trough instead of contracting the same.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of the side plates, 1) b, of the spout, one or both adjustable laterally,

with the elastic trough B, having its upper edges secured to said side plates, and with means for laterally contracting or expanding said trough, as set forth.

2. The combination of the spout having adjustable side plates, the elastic trough B CHARLES P. WEAVER. Witnesses:

J OHN M. CLAYTON, HARRY SMITH. 

